Combined roller and bell for fishing-boats



(No Model.)

L. D. LOT HROP.

COMBINED BELL AND ROLLER FOR FISHING BOATS.

Patented Jan. 3, 1888.

A I I i G E A l. A IL [A/ \/E/\/ 7173: i i

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

LLEYVELLYN D. LOT-HROl OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS- COMBlNED ROLLER AND BELL FOR FISHING-BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,882, dated January 3, 1888.

Application filed Oetr-ber 26, 1887. Serial No. 253,478. (No model.)

(To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, LLEWELLYN D. LOTHROP, of Gloucester, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in a Combined Bell and Roller for Fishing-Boats, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to provide a cheap, simple, convenient, efficient, and durable bell and roller combined, and more especially fitted or adapted for use on boats used in tending t-rawls or nets in fishing and similar purposes; and it consists in the peculiar construction, combination, and arrangement of a double-mouthed bell which is provided with a journal or axis and forms a roller as supported in its frame, which is adapted to be loosely attached to the side or top edge of the boat when desired as a roller, and be removed therefrom when required, as hereinafter more fully described, and specifically set forth in the claim.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation showing a bell-roller and supportingframe embodying my invention removed from the bout. Fig. 2 represents avertical section through the center of the belt or axis of the roller, and the supporting-frame.

A represents two supporting arms, between which the double-mouthed bell-ro1ier B isjournaled by the bolt, rivet, or axis 0, which passes within a suitable hole formed through the center or hub E of the roller and through the opposite curved end portions of the said arms A, and is secured therein by riveting, or in any other suitable manner. These arms A are united together below the said bell-roller by a cross-piece or connecting-bar, D, from the lower side of which projects a vertical support, H, which is adapted to be placed within a suitable .hole provided in the frame of the edge of the boat when ready for use in hauling aboard a trawl, the line or rope of which passes within the groove of the roller B, when the weight of the trawl and ropes bearing upon the roller causes it to rotate upon its axis and thereby greatly facilitates the operation by reducing the necessary friction, as heretofore employed.

It is a common practice in some kinds of fishing to employ several small boats in conj unction with a fishing-schooner, and the boats are designated by certain numbers, as No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and in order to communicate certain information to any particular boat from the schooner, or from one boat to another when the same are not sufficiently near, or are in a fog, or darkness obscures the same, a horn has to be blown, giving a prearranged signal, so as to communicate the numbcrand location of the several boats.

Now, it will be seen and understood that by means of my improved bell-roller any desired boat may be signaled or communicated with by simply striking upon the metal bell-roller the number of strokes corresponding with that number by which any certain boat is indicated, as above described.

It will be observed that the bell-roller may be removed from its position on the top of the boat and held in one hand by its frame support and struck by a stick held in the other hand when employed on either the small boats or schooner.

It will be seen that the form of the roller makes two bells or gongs, united back to back, with their mouth portions extending in opposite directions from a central point within the groove between the same, by which construction, it either hell or opposite portion be struck, so as to cause it to vibrate and ring, the vibrations instantly pass to the other portion, and thereby the tone or volume of sound is largely increased, having the effect of two bells struck in unison when separate.

The ends of the arms Aare extended beyond thejonrnal and are bent inwardly within the bell, so as to prevent any of the small lines catching thereon when hauling in the net or handling the' fishing-lines on board the boat.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- I A combined bell and pulley consisting of a double bell which forms a grooved roller between the flanges, having an axis journaled in asupportingframe, substantially as described, as and for the purpose set forth.

LLEWELLYN D. LOTHROP.

Witnesses:

SYLvENUs WALKER, WILLIAM H. PARRY. 

